by reDesign | Oct 1, 2020
Most Valuable Idea In this activity, adapted from Gallagher’s Deeper Reading (2004), students will identify the most valuable idea in a reading, find an article that relates to that idea, and make a connection between the text, the article, and the student’s own life....
by Vicky Kim | Oct 1, 2020
Using Media to Generate a Topic This activity is used when students need to generate a topic for a writing assignment or project. It is most useful when the topic choice is fairly open-ended. By exploring a range of media, students explore and identify topics that...
by Vicky Kim | Oct 1, 2020
Showing not Telling This activity helps to enliven students’ writing by teaching them to SHOW what is happening and how characters are feeling rather than drily reporting the facts. It helps writers and readers to experience stories with their senses rather than just...
by Vicky Kim | Oct 1, 2020
Sing Me a Song The purpose of this activity, inspired by Burke’s The English Teacher’s Companion (1998), is to provide students with a fun way to summarize and reflect on what they have read. Students will write lyrics to a song about a story, a character, or an event...
by Vicky Kim | Oct 1, 2020
THIEVES This activity guides students to preview a text effectively by drawing their attention to important textual elements, and helping them to make predictions and anticipate meaning. Students use the acronym THIEVES, which stands for: T: Title, H: Headings, I:...
